CHICAGO — While covering the Democratic National Convention I was looking for a typical Wisconsin delegate.
I spotted Liz Blackbourn of Elkhorn decked out in a Kamala T-shirt and wearing a cheese head hat. I soon learned, however, she was anything but a typical Wisconsin delegate.
The Blackbourn name is well-known in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, but now the family has branched out to Shanghai, China.
Blackbourn, now living in Shanghai, is attending the Democratic National Convention representing Democrats Abroad, an organization in which she serves as the China chapter chair.
“I’ve been in China for 10 years, and I learned about the difficulties Americans there have when it comes to voting,” she said. “The paperwork is overwhelming and on a very tight schedule.
“It’s also costly when you have to have paperwork delivered within a few days by using courier services such as FedEx,” she said. “It cost me $75 to vote in a primary.”
Blackbourn emphasized that although the organization is called Democrats Abroad, the volunteers staffing it will assist any American wanting to vote.
“Democrats, Republicans, Independents or any other party affiliation doesn’t matter,” she said. “The goal is to help all Americans overseas vote.”
The ambitious plans for Democrats Abroad are daunting, especially when members are all volunteers.
“We are not a paid staff,” Blackbourn said. “We try to meet expenses with contributions.”
Blackbourn said the group’s work has spread to other countries around the world. More information on Democrats Abroad can be found at democratsabroad.org.
Blackbourn’s first name is Liz because she is not a male. Had that been the case, her name would probably be Lisle Blackbourn V.
“My great grandfather, Lisle Blackbourn, was the Green Bay Packers’ head coach for four years from 1954-1957,” she said. “When the legendary Vince Lombardi took over in 1959 he hired my great grandfather back to the Pack as a recruiter.”
The Lisle Blackbourn family athletic tradition began when Lisle played football at Lawrence University. He was a high school coach and eventually ended up as the backfield coach at Wisconsin.
Lisle then became head football coach at Marquette University and had the distinction of coaching Marquette’s last football game at the end of the 1960 season when the school dropped the sport.
“Lisle’s son was named Lisle Blackbourn Junior and Lisle Junior’s son was named Lisle III and his son, my brother, is Lisle IV,” Liz said. “My great grandfather’s nickname was Liz, so you guessed it, when I came along, Liz was a no-brainer.”
All the Lisles were athletes. Liz did not break that family tradition — she was on the crew team while a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
“I now live in China with my husband who has a business there, but I’m a Badger through and through,” she said. “That’s why I just had to attend this convention, cheese hat and all, and lend my support to my fellow Wisconsin Democrats who are really energized over the Harris Walz team. I am as well.”
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